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2 sheets-sms 1.

J.H0UPT. GONDENSER FOR MARINE ENGINES.

Patented July 19, 1870,

pw: cams PETERS cu4 Puorolurno.. wAsHmcToN, n, cy

N .iaitrd ndert gleitet editie.

JOHN HoUrT, or sPRINc'roWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 105,457, dated July 19, 1876,

` .The Schedule referred to in these'Letters Patent and making part of the same.

I, Jolis HOU1 1 ,of Springtownpin the county of Bucks and State ot Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain Improvements m Gondeusers for Marine Engines,

of which thefollowing is a specification.

:briefly in the caveats tiled by me on the 15th and 22d days of September, 1869, and on the `15th day of .Ian-

vnary, 1870.

The first part of my invention relates to thcconstruction and combined arrangement ot' two primary condcnsers'with theV respective ends of the steam-cylinder of a marine engine, and with a single secondary condenser, in such a manner that the exhaust-steam .ol the cylinder will be more elfectnally and easily divided into two v:portions `in passing through the two said condense1s,thc one portieri passing onward. to-

ward a tertiary condenser, to be eventually reduced.-

to fresh .water for supplying the steam-generators of the said engine, and the other portion being condensed by a jet-spray of cold sca-water, and the saline tluid discharged overboard; ,tlieobject of this part of my invention being to produce thereby a.more perfect t vacuum in front`of the piston, and also to ali'ord a sutiicient supply' of fresh water for a marine engine without a special distillatory apparatus for the purpose. The second part of lny invention relates to the construct-ion of the sccondary condenser and thc pipe leading from it to ther tertiary condenser, and to the connection therewith rot' a lince-pump, in such a mauncr that, while any required height of water may-be maintained in the condenser, and the surplus be -discharged overboard, all theyapor discharged into and arising from the water in the said condenser will be conveyed to the tertiary condenser; the object of this part of my invention being to separate more effectually the saline wat-er and the vapor, and rendering the latter available for condensation in the tertiary condenser, for the purpose of affordng'a supply of fresh water for the steam-generators of the engine.

The third part of my invention relates to the construction of a tertiary condenser, and to its arrangement. and combination `with the secondary and primary condeusers and the respective ends ofthe steam cylinder, in such amanner that thc portion ot' steam or vapor which passes upward from the secondary condenser will be` perfectly and rapidly condensed, and tinally discharged by the said tertiary condenser into a reservoir, for the purpose ol` supplying the steam-generators of thcengine with a suliiciency of fresh water.

Description of the Accompanying Drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the 'middle of one of the primary condensers and the middle ofthe secondary condenser and their innuediate connections, detached from the tertiary condenser.

Figure 2 1s a horizontal section of the secondary condenser, below the dotted lineV-of tig. 1.

Figure 3 isa vertical section of the tertiary condenser and fresh-water reservoir, detached from the primary and secondary condensers.

General Description.

A is one of the ltwo like primary condenscrs, communicating by a pipe, a', with its respective end of the steam-cylinders (not shown) of a steam-engine.

, the secondary condenser.

E, a Kcapas-ions inverted vapor-i'cceive|', supported upon the condenser B, and opening through `the top ot' thesame downward into the Vmonth of another vapor-receiver, b', within the said condenser B, while its upper end communicates with a capacious steam or vapor-pipe, I, leading into the drum K of the tertiary condenser o'r condensing cases O C.

b" is a horizontal pipe, which forms a communication between the bottomof the condenser B and the bottom of the vessel b', so that anywater in th'c bottomsof B and b' will preserve the same level, as in dicated by the dotted line W on fig. 1.

Atsonc end of the vbottom of B an opening and pipe, F, are provided, for the reception oi" an adjust able over-flow pipe, f', whereby any required height of thc water-surface may be obtained in the condenser the engine, so that the surplus or overflow water-of,

the condenser B will be forced overboard.

Communication between the primary condenser and the secondary condenser B is closed and opened by means of' a valve, H, operated by a rod,h',`con nected with the engine, substantially as described in my said allowed application..

-In one side of the primary condenser A thereis a recess, covered on the inner -side by a perforated plate, a", and in t-hc middle of the recessed portion there is an opening fitted with a conical plug-valve', a', in a-water-cl1amber, a4, which communicates with an elevated fountain-head, (not shown,) so that, whenover the valve is opened, a jet-spray of cold water will be forcedinto the condenser A. i

At the opposite side of the 'condenser A, and a little below the jet-spray recess, is a small opening fitted with a conical plug-valve, a5, covered by a case, which, by means of a pipe, a", receives hot-air from any suitable air-heating and forcing-chamber, so that, whenever the said valve is opened, a stream of said hot air will be forced into the condenser A.

This valve a5, and also the valve cr', are operated by the engine substantially in the saine manner as the valve H.

Side by side of each other the two primary condeiisers, of which A is a representation of either, having each an open communication ivitli its respective ends of the steam-cylinder of the engine, and the valves of` each of said primary condcnsers operating alternately as the exhaust steam is received from their respective ends 0f t-lic said steam-cylinder, aiid both communicating with one and the saine secondary condenser B, as described, the result will be as follows, viz-y Duiing the entrance of ,tbc-first puff of steam into' either. of the primary condenser-s, the valve H iii the bottom of the same being still open, and the valves a* and a5 closed, thc said putl` ot' steam and the air in the said primary condenserl A will be driven down into the secondary condenser B, and .the valve H inunediatcly afterward closed, so that a moiety o'r portion of the exhaust steam coming from the cylinder will be retained in the condenser A, the valve a noiv opens and a spray of'cold water therefrom condenscs the confined steam, and thus produces the vaciiui'n4 required in front of the advancing piston, and the piston having advanced nearly to the end of its stroke, the valve a closes, and the valve a5 opens and lets hot air in to the 'coudenseis A, to overcome the vacuum, or equalize the pressure in the primary and secondary condeusers, and immediately afterward the valve a5 closes, and the valve H opens, and lets the waterA in the primary condenser fall by gravitation into the secondary condenser. 'lhe'pnti` of high stain now coming through the open valve H of the other primary condenser, drives the .vapor and warm air therein into the secondary condenser B, which vapor and air, together with whatever vapor niay arise from the saline water therein, and in the capacious chamber b', will be driven upward into the. capricious chamber E, and the said vapor of fresh water then driven upward through the vertical pipe I and the inclined pipe l' into the drum of the tertiary condenser, the saline water deposited in the secondary condenser B being at the4 same time kept at any required height or depth therein by the adjustable overflow pipe f' and the'aetion of the pumpplunger G, operated by the engine so as to discharge overboard, through the pipe f, the overflow water.

. The tertiary condenser consists of the drum K and two like cases,- G O, of prismatic forni, each fitted with a removable sunken bottom, c', and a removable cap, c", and supported on a substantial frame by means of trunnious c, in such a manner that, when detached from the outside pipes which connect it with its fellow case and other parts of the engine, it can be tilted to any suitable position required for cleansing or re.

pairs.

The caps c" c" are secured npoii tlie"iipper ends rcspeetively of thel cases C C, with a perforated plate, c, between, and forni chambers which respectively communicate with the drum K above, through a valvecbainber, L, and pipes' l l, (see fig. 3.)

The sunken bottoms c' c' are cach secured to the respective ends of C C, with two like perforated plates, c" ci', and a correspondingly perforated couipressible packing, c, between the said cases and bottoms.

Between the cap c" and the bottom c' or each case C. there are a series of transversely arranged partitions, 11 ll 1l 1l, which exit-nd alternately from opposite sides of thc case to the extent of' about twotliirds, more or less, of thc distant@ lJUWCOl! H10 Slil sides.

At; n, short; distance below the lowest of' the partitions 11 (if-@ach case C there are two flanged openings, 12 12, made for thc purpose 0f' the attachment to said ease of two pipes (not shown) for 'the nitrodnction of steady streams of cold sca-raler from any sufficiently elevated reservoir, and at. the opposite side of the ease, near its lupper end, there are niadc two correspondingly ilanged openings, 13,11) which pipes (not Shown) are intended to be attached to carry off the water supplied to thc case through the openings 12 12.

A iiumci'ons series of .slightly tapering open tubes, 14 14, are secured longitudinally within cach case G, by inserting cach of said tubes downward through the respectively appropriate perthrations in the plate d, partitions 11 1l, and plates c c c".

The upper' end of each tube is screw-cut around its outer side, and fitted with two nuts, 15 and 16, thc lower one serving as a jam-nut or adjustable shoulder, and the other one as atlghtcncr, so that the upper or wider end of the tube 14 can be secured thereby in a water tight manner, in the said perforated plate c'.

'lhe perforations in the bottoni-plates o'c c are binde, respectively, to receive thc lower part of the tubes in a closely fit-ting manner, so that, by means of' small screw-bolts'l'r', the two plates cie" can be caused to compress the elasticpacking-plate c" between them sufficiently to contract the perloiations in the packing, or keep it always pressing in water-tight contact around the tubes, and at the saine time, so as to allow the lower parts of the said tubes to slide up and down as their lengths may become varied by changes of' temperature, without causing any leaking ot' the water around between them and the packing by such variation.

It will be seen, therefore, that the tubes 14 forni a series of open communications between the two chainbei's formed at the respective ends of' each of thc prismatie cases C C by their respective caps c" and bottoms cl, and that water flowing .under pressure into the said cases through the openings 12, will pass upward from side to side alternately, between the partitions 11 11, und thence out through thc openings 13 without entering` either thc tubes 14, or the chainbci'sc' o" 'lhe said condensing-eases O C are supported upon their respective truiinions c', with their uppci' ends inclined toward cach other, (see fi". 3,) and are cohnected with'thel drinn 1i by means of the chamber L, branch pipes. Z" Z", and the pipes of thc respective caps c" c, a governor-valve, l', being arranged iii the chamber L so as tp be periodically opened and closed partially, to equalize the pressure ot' the puffs of vapor in thecases, G-C as may be required, bya positive motion derived from tlieengine through a connectingrod, M, or its equivalent.

The shallow chambers formed at the lower ends of the cases O C, cach communicate' through a U-beiit pipe, d', with a fresh-water receiver, D, through an .intervening valve,d", opening upward into the said receiver, which latter must be placed at a proper distance below the condenser, to receive and serve as a reservoir for the water of'cond'ensation which is to flow down through t-hetubes 14 of' the condensing-eases C O. The freshwater thus supplied tothe said reservoir D' is intended to be drawn through a bent pipe, ll'v", to supply the-usual steam-generators of the engine.

On the upper side of the pipe I there is a safetyvalvc, t", opening outward, for the purpose of providing against any excessive pressure of the steam on its passage through pipes `I 1'.

Or1 the drinn K there is a valve, p, opening inward,

` come, when necessary, such a vacuum as would cause a return motion in the condensed water of the tertiary when the valve L is open. On Vthe cap c of each of the cases C O of the said tertiary condenser, there' is a vacuum-valve, a,opening inward,`ibr the purpose of providing against the possible occurrence of such a. vacuum therein as would permita return of the condensed water in the tubes 14 below. wlien the',valve l above is closed. I i

In connection with the sunken bottom c' of each of the eases O O, there are a pair of valves, o 0, the one opening outward to allow the air to escape' from the lower ends of the tubes 14, and the other opening inward to allow of the entrance'A of air into e, if at any time necessary.

The valves n, o o,and p, are each made adj ust-able by a spring and screw-nut, to'any degree of pressure that may be required,'andlare intended to bcadjusted so as to act automatically, as the emergencies 'may require. y

'.lhe fresh-water reservoir Dbeing entirely belowthe tertiary cendensers .K 'C C, the water from the latter will gravitate into it, and the valves d" d will prevent any possibility ofthe return of any of said water, should a vacuum occur at any time in the said tertiary condensels. l

It will be understood without further description,

that, by applying a dist-inetl and independent primary condenser for the reception of the exhaust steam from 'each end-of the stealn cylinder of an engine,`so that both will open into oneand the same secondary condenser, as described, the water of condensation in the bottom of either' of the primary condcnscrs will have time to fall down into the -secondarycondenser before the irst'pnii'of high steam from its end of the steam-v 'cylinder reaches the saidprimary condenser, and consequently, when the puff of steam arrives, driving out the air in the primary, there will be less likelihood of anexcessoi' steam being produced thereby, (before its valve closcs,) greater than the tertiary condenscrs might be competentto receive and condense.

It willalso be understood that, by increasing the.

capacity of the secondary condenser, and of the pipe whiclrlcads from it tothe drun'iof the `tertiary cou'- dcnscr,as shown, the sudden entrance of the puff of high steam and air from the primary condensers, and

the expansive effect of the same upon the vapor in the secondary condenser, will be suiciently provided for` to prevent; any saline water from entering the tertiary condenser, and` at the Sametime allow all the freshwater vaperto be driven onward into the. tertifiry por in the condenser just before Vstarting the engine,4

i aml to generate vapor at any time, shouldthere be a deticieneyin the regular production to keep up the supply of fresh' water for the steamfgencrators of.the engine.

as, constructed and arranged to operate substantiailyl as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of two like primary eondcnsers A, with vthe respective ends of the steam-cylinder of au engine, and with oneand thesamesecondary conf,

denser, B, so as to operate inrelation-to each other,

substantially as and for the purpose hercinb'efore setf' forth. v

3. The combination, with the secondary condenser B, of the capricious vessel b', the intercommunicating vpipe li", the capaeious inverted vessel E andp'pes I I', the said parts being constructed and arranged 'to' v operate substantially as and forthe purpose herenbe- A fore set forth.

4. The combination, with the secondary condenser B, of the adjustable over-flow pipe j",and its cylinder F, the piunger G and its cylinder-f, and valves f' f", A and the overboard or waste-pipe j", the sanbparts' being constructed and arranged to operate snbstantiall asand .for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

5. The tertiary condenser, Aconsisting of vthe drum Kami comlensing-cases C C, connected together by` the detachable pipes L and 1." l,and arranged and 'supported 'upon trnnnions c'", substantially as aml for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

(i. Incombination with the pipe L,-tl|e governorvalve I', arranged and operated substantially as 'and 'fur "ti le purpose hereiubefere setforth.VA o

` 7 The open tubes 14 i4, in the eases 0 C, iu combination with the pertbrated plate c* and screw-nuts 15 and 16, at the upper ends of the said tubes, and `the peribiateibplates ci, elastic packingplate c", and lscrew-bolts 17 17,'at the lowerends of the said tubes, substantially forth. Y

8. In combinatiouwith 'the respective upper ends or caps c" c" of the cases() C, the inlet-valves a n, constructed and. opera-ting substantially as aml for the purpose hercinbefore set forth.

9. Incombination with the respective lower ends t or bottoms c' c' of the cases C. C, the outlet Yand the inlet valves o o, constructed and operating substantially' as and for the purposes hereinbefbre setfort-h.

10. The combination, with the lower ends-of the eases O C, of .the detachable fresh-water reservoir I), y substmitially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth.

11. 'lhe combination, with tl|e-drum K, of the inlet-valve p, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

12. The combination of the drum vK with the sece ondary condenser B, by means ofthe pipes 1' and I, and the capaeious inverted vessel'E, arranged in relation to each other substantially as and yfor the purpose bereinbefore set forth.

Witnesses:

JOHN Hourtin Bmw. MomsoN, t

Wvr. I-i'.' Momsou.

as and for. the purpose 'hcreinbefore set 

